Friction-clutch.



C. T. FLETCHER.

PMGTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17. 1908. 9%.MI Patent@ une a. 1911.

2 SHEBTS-EHEBT I.

.entre Vstares fraraivr erica.

CHARLES T. FLETCHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, :BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, T0 FRANK FRENCH, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Toa whom 'it may con-cera.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. FLETCHER, acitizen of the United States,residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county or Philadelphia andState or Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Frictionlutches, .of which the following isa specification.

'Iheprincipalobject ot the present invention is to. provide a frictionclutch which Shall'be simple,- reliable and durable and which 'shall'be'w'ell adapted' to meet the requirements' or' automobiles and whichshall be capable of easy adjustment and repair.

In'the drawings Figure 1, is a side elevational view, partly in section,of a clutch embodying features of the invention. Fig. 2, is a'transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2,4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, isan end View looking toWa-rdlthe left of the cou- 'ptmgmen'iher that' isattached to the clutch;

Fg.-4',f=is en end view of the clutch shaft' coupling lie/nge,- yandFig." 5, is, an end vievv o f lthelutlzh'-coupling member. 1

f 1`a'd'2`, are'the parts, members or elements oi'l the clutch. They arecylindrical and hollow and arranged one Within .the other, andy theinner one is provided With an outward flange 3, and the outer one is provided with an inward flange 4. The ange 4, is detachable to .facilitatethe assembly of the parts. Interpbsed between the flanges 3 and 4, are aserres of rings 5 and 6, each of which is freely movable crossWisc ofthe cl'tch, 'and the alternate rings in the se.` ri'es aie-"respectivel`1 connected with the clutch membersiran` 2. There are between the rings5, 'and the clutch member 2, axial grooves 7, and projections 8, whichconstitutemeansor causing the rings 5, to turn' With the clutch member2, and for permitting the rings 5, toanoveairially of the member 2. -sshown" the grooves 7 are formed on the outside of the clutch member 2,which is 4shown as internally reinforced to-proigide for ,the formation'of the grooves, andthe ribs or projections Sfare'form'ed on the 'innerrim of the rings 5. Thel rings 6, are connected so as to turn With butlb'e'mov` able axially in respect to the member 1, by

'means of what may be called"slotandpin connections. As shown thevmember 1, is inteifnally provided with countersunk projections, and-therings 6, are provided with countersunk projections 10. The counter-Specification of Letters Patent.

implication filed August 17, 1908.

Patented June 6, 191i..

Serial No. 448,981.

y sunk portions of the member 1, and rings 6, constitute Ways whichreceive the Shanks of the bolts 11, that serve to attach the fiange 4,to the member 1. These bolts 11, also serve to connect the rings 6, andthe member 1, in such Way that they rotate asone while the rings areaxially inoAfablew-i 12, are inserts ot' cork or the like' which areuseful in the provision of the proper frictional contact or resistanceor engagement oi therings.

By removing the nuts 13, it is easy to obtain access to all the ringsand parts and also to take apart or assemble the same. Y

The member 1, is shown as keyed to the shaft 14, and held to placeagainst endivise movement on a conical part thereof by means o a nut 15,engaging its hub. 'Rivet'ed `or otherwise secured to the member 2, is aclutch drum coupling flange 16, provided With a sleeve 17, containinga'bushing 18, that encircles and runs oli the end ot the shaft 14, thediameter of 'which is shown `as reduced. i

16a, is an oil hole or duct arranged through the part 16. y

interposed between the part 16, and the member 1, is aspring 19, andanend thrust bearing 26, which coperates With it intend.- ing to push themembers 1 and 2, apart and in pern'littingof the rotation of the memberA2. The normal operation of the spring is to push the members 1 and 2,apart and thus to push the confronting flanges 3 and 4, toward eachother, with the result that all .of the rings are pressed together sothat the members 1 and 2, turn as owne,l When the spring 19, iscompressed v' sample, by. shiftingthe clutch drum cdjnng flange towardthe left, the pressure upoh'the rings is diminished and they .slipin.respect to each other so that one member ,of .the clutch may move Whilethe other may 'remain at'y on one face (the back t'ace as shown iu Fig.5) of the clutch coupling block 26, which may be made of bearing metal.groove 27, across the face of this block receives a projection Q8,across the end tace et the clutch drum coupling flange 11G.

The purpose of the various parts last dcscribcd is to accommodate anyirregularities that may occur in the alinemcnt ot' the shafts 2l andlll.

29, is a part upon which the spring Q3, bears and it may be a collar huhor other piece.

What l' claim is:

1. A -t'riction clutch comprising an inner drinn having an outward endflange, rings mounted on said drum, a rib-andslot connection between therings and drum whereby they turn as one and permit axial movement oftherings, an outer drinn, a detach- Iable end flange for the outer drinn,bolts connecting the end flange and the outer drum, and a second setioff rings alternating with the first set of rings and peripherallynotched to slidably engage the shanks of the bolts, substantially asdescribed.

f2. A- friction clutch con'iprising an outer drum having a detachable.end flange, an inner drum having an end flange, friction ringsinterposed between said flanges and whereof the intermediate rings havesliding connection witlrthe inner drum and the alternate rings havesliding connection with the outer drum, means cou'ipiising a spring andan end thrust anti-trictional bearing interposed between the hubs ofthe. drums, a clutch drinn coupling flange connected with the hub of theinner drinn, a clutch coupling block having projection and grooveconnection with the clutch drum coupling flange, and a clutch shaftcoupling flange having projection and groove connection with the clutchcoupling block and being internally squared, substantially as described.

A friction clutch comprising a clutch drinn coupling flange providedwith a bushing and with an oil inlet, an inner drinn` carried by saidcoupling flange and provided with a flanged end and upon its curvedsurface with axial grooves, an outer drinn provided with a detachableend flange v and with bolts for securing the saine, rings of.' whichsome are provided with projections that Work in the grooves of the innerdrum and others are provided with projections that work on the shanks ofsaid bolts, and

a spring and thrust bearing interposed between said drums, substantiallyas described.

4. In a friction clutch the combination of an inner drinn provided withan outward end flange and on its cylindrical surface with axial grooves,rings mounted on the inner drinn and provided with inward projectionsthat work in said grooves, an outer drum provided with a detachableinward cud flange and on the inner surface with axially arranged concaveseats, bolts having their shanks arranged in said seats and adapted toheld said detachable flange, and rings alternating with the firstmentioned rings and having notched peripheries adapted to engage theshanks of said bolts. sub stantially as described. y f

5. in a friction clutch the combination of an end flange, an outer drinnhaving upon its inner curved surface axially arrangedconcave seats,bolts having their Shanks arranged in the seats and adapted to hold theQndflange, and rings mounted in said drum and peripherally notchedy forengagement with the Shanks of the bolts, substantially as described.

tl. Friction clutch mechanism comprising the combination of a shaft, adrinn having its hub secured to the body .of said shaft to permit theend thereof.2 to n'oject, a second drum nested in respect to tlhefirstand having a sleeve revoluble on the projecting end et said shaftand provided with a laterally projecting clutch drinn coupling flange, aspringcncirc'ling said shaft and tending to separate the drums, frictionrings between .said drums, a squared shaft having a spring actuatedclutch shaft coupling that turns with and is movable endwise of it, aclutch coupling block, and -groovc-andsprojection connections betweenthe block and the coupling flange and the block and thc shaft-couplingwhereby irregularities in alineinent of the shafts is compensated for. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto .signed my name.

